muxel

Muxel is a desktop workspace for developers who run coding agents and shells side by side. Its mix of agent status, Git worktrees, and built-in editing tools makes it a more complete option than a pane manager alone, though Windows users give up tmux session persistence.

Overview

Muxel brings terminal sessions, agent workflows, and project tools into one app. You can arrange sessions in panes and tabs, review work in isolated Git worktrees, and use the built-in editor, file browser, and Git controls without leaving the workspace. For developers coordinating several agent-driven tasks, that integration is the central advantage; those who only need a conventional terminal multiplexer may not need the added workflow features.

The app runs locally and its maker says it does not send projects, terminal contents, prompts, or usage data to ProjectHax LLC. That does not make configured agents private by default: prompts and other data sent to agents or service providers are governed by their policies. Muxel does not operate those services, and users remain responsible for their terms and costs.

For more options in this category, see Terminal Multiplexers.

Key features

Sessions you can monitor

Horizontal and vertical splits, tabs, and detachable windows give busy projects room for several concurrent sessions. Status labels mark agents as working, idle, blocked, or done, and desktop notifications can flag an unfocused agent that needs attention. That visibility helps when tasks run in parallel, although Muxel organizes agents rather than supplying them.

Configurable agent presets

Presets cover Claude, opencode, Amp, Grok, Hermes, Ollama, Ollama Code, Pi, and Shell, and can be configured. The range supports mixing agent and shell sessions in one workspace; which services are usable and what they cost depends on what the user configures.

Git and task workflows

Isolated Git worktrees keep task changes apart, with in-worktree review and GitHub pull request actions. Prompt-based task runners can launch work, and saved prompts can be scheduled every few minutes, hourly, or daily. These features suit developers who want repeatable agent tasks and a review path close to the terminal; they are less relevant to users seeking only a general-purpose shell.

Local interface, remote execution

Agents can run on remote hosts over SSH while the interface, editor, and file browser stay local. The built-in editor, file browser, diff review, Git controls, command palette, and terminal scrollback search make the app useful beyond session arrangement, without requiring the project interface itself to move to the remote machine.

Pricing

Muxel's Free & open source plan costs nothing and covers Linux, macOS, and Windows under GPL-3.0. It includes the desktop app's pane layouts and session synchronization, but not collaboration features. The software is free and open source; ProjectHax LLC also offers a separate commercial license, with custom pricing.

Muxel does not include the third-party agents or services users configure. Their subscriptions, usage charges, and terms are separate, so the app's zero price does not mean agent use is necessarily free.

Platforms

The desktop app is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with Linux AppImage, deb, rpm, and tar.gz packages, macOS dmg and zip downloads, and Windows installers and portable zip files. Remote agents can run on SSH hosts. One material limitation is that tmux session persistence is Unix-only and disabled on Windows, making Windows a weaker fit for users who depend on sessions surviving disconnects.

Who it's for

Muxel is best suited to developers running several coding agents or shells against a project, especially those who value separate worktrees, prompt scheduling, and local project tools in the same interface. It is a strong fit for people comfortable configuring their own providers and paying any provider charges directly. It is a poorer choice for teams that need collaboration features in the app or Windows users who require tmux session persistence.

Pros and cons

Pro: Combines configurable agent sessions, status monitoring, Git worktrees, review actions, and prompt scheduling, which reduces the need to switch among separate project tools.

Pro: Keeps the interface and project tools local while allowing agents to run over SSH, a useful split for remote execution.

Pro: Free and open source under GPL-3.0, with desktop coverage across Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Con: Windows lacks tmux session persistence, an important gap for users who rely on resumable sessions.

Con: No collaboration features are included, and costs and data policies for configured agents and providers remain separate.

Alternatives

Choose Okena if broad platform coverage including Android, iOS, web, and API matters more than Muxel's desktop-focused agent workspace.

Zellij is a free, open-source option with no account required; its hosted session-sharing service, Zellij.online, has a free tier and is in closed beta.

muxterm may suit users looking for MIT-licensed, self-hosted software distributed as a single binary.

p2pmux is another free, MIT-licensed option, focused on Linux and macOS.

Herdr is worth considering for a locally running, Apache 2.0 runtime across macOS, Linux, and Windows.

openmux may fit users seeking MIT-licensed software for macOS Apple Silicon or Linux x64 and arm64.

Quil is a free option for users who want no paid tier or hosted version.

WMUX is a free, MIT-licensed alternative for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Verdict

Choose Muxel if you want a free, open-source desktop workspace that brings agent sessions, Git worktrees, and local project tools together, with SSH execution as an option. Look elsewhere if Windows session persistence or built-in collaboration is essential, or if you want the agents and their costs bundled into the app.